Electric wiring system



June 12, 1934.. M DE MASK 1,962,554

ELECTRIC WIRING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 25. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l June. 12, 1934. M, J. DE MASK 1,962,554

ELECTRIC WIRING VSYSTEM Filed Sept. 23, 1931 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4' 703 9' j 76 f2 27 f3 z b 4r- 5 1 w" l Y I I Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to wiring systems in which plug receptacles are employed to extend over a wall or ceiling and provided at intervals with openings in which a plug may be inserted so that current may be taken oil at various points to provide lights or operate tools.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a conduit or plug receptacle of such form that the current-conducting elements will be carried by a cap or cover which may be easily fitted upon or removed from the main casing of the receptacle.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for connecting the ends of sections of the conduit or receptacle and the invention also seeks generally to improve the construction of devices of this type, reduce the cost of the same, and facilitate the installation thereof. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be hereinafter fully described, the novel features being particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a plug receptacle embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 a modification.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a further modification.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the conduit. l

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the core and conductor strips shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the core shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective of a portion of the conductor bar shown in Fig. 3, as the same appears before it is mounted upon the core.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation showing means for coupling the adjacent ends of sections of the conduit.

Fig. 10 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal vertical section, of the structure shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a detail elevation of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 9, the cover being removed from the conduit.

Fig. 12 is a transverse section on the line 12-12 50 0f Fig. 9.

but showing Fig. 13 is a transverse section similar to Fig. 2,v

but showing a further modification.

' Fig. 14 is a transverse section showing the conduit arranged to permit the insertion of a plug through its sides.

y of the sections and also furnish means whereby Fig. 15 is an elevation, with parts in section, of another modification. I

Fig. 16 is a section on the line 16--16 of Fig. 15.

The apparatus of the present invention includes a conduit or receptacle l which is con- 0 structed in sections having a standard length or' ten feet although they may be longer or shorter. These sections are preferably stamped from sheet metal and given the form shown clearly in Fig. 2, and are secured to a wall, partition, or ceiling in any convenient or preferred manner. The sides of the conduit sections are shaped at their free edges to form beads 2 which extend the full length of the sections and tend to resist buckling the cover may be engaged and held in place. The conduit sections are shown in Figs. 2 and 3 without lining but in Fig. 4, which shows a conduit section 3 of less depth than the'section shown in4 Figures 2 and 3, a lining 4 of some light insulating material is provided and extends over the entire inner surface of the section. A cover 5 is provided and this cover is also made in sec tions having the same length as the sections of the conduit or receptacleand has its edge portions formed into beads or flanges 6 which are adapted to spring over and ride into gripping engagement with the beads 2 of the receptacle, as shown clearly in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The cover is stamped from sheet metal and at intervals in its length, openings 7 are provided therein, these openings being covered or closed by knock-out discs as is the usual practice in the art. Each section of the cover has a core therein and this core is permanently attached to the cover in any convenient manner. In the form shown in Figure 2, the core is formed of Bakelite or some other similar moldable insulating material and includes a central body bar or strip 8 with an upper iiange 9 extending between the sides of the lining 10 which is provided along the sides of the receptacle while at the lower end or edge of the bar 8 is a flange 11 extending from both sides of the bar and provided with openings 12 therethrough within the area of the openings 7 in the cover, as shown clearly in Fig'. 5. Extending along the sides of the core body 8 are conductor strips 13 which may be embedded in the core during the molding of the latter and these.

conductor strips are intended to be closely engaged by the prongs of a plug which may be inserted through the openings 12, the body of the plug, which is generally of insulation, being received within the opening 7 so that a close engagement of the plug with the receptacle may be attained. f it be intended to use plugs having flat straight prongs or circuit-closing ngers, clips 14 may be provided to insure and maintain the proper engagement of the prongs with the conductor bars. These clips may have one side embedded in the core, bacl; of the conductor strip or bar, and its outer portion formed into a resilient nger which will normally lie against the conductor strip and will, therefore, force the prong of the plug to the strip and hold it in :drm engagement therewith. After the, conduit or receptacle has been secured in place, the cover is merely slid over the beaded edges of the receptacle and will be rrnly held thereon through the resilient frictional engagement or" the beads upon the receptacle and cover, as will be understood. It will be noted that the core is permanently attached to the cover and, therefore, when the cover is tted in place the core is housed within the receptacle and; vice versa, removal of the cover will withdraw the core from the receptacle, the paper lining remaining in the receptacle. The installation of the device is thus -facilitated and inspection and repairs may be expeditiously made.

In Fig. 3, the core is formed of a central strip 15 of press-board and an outer section of the same material which is folded upon itself to provide an inverted U-shaped body 16, with flanges 17 extending in opposite directions from the sides of said body. This inverted U-shaped body is placed over the strip 15, as shown in Fig. 3, and the conductor bars 18 are disposed against the opposite sides of said body and are formed at intervals with prongs or teeth 19 which may be bent laterally and inserted through openings 2G provided therefor in the sides of the body 16 and clinched against the inner surface of the body by being bent through their impact against the strip 15, as will be readily understood upon reference to Fig. 3. Or the prongs may be clinched against the inner surface by other means, in which case, the strip 15 will be placed in position after the prongs are clinched against the inner surface of the body. If desired, the central strip may be omitted. A lining 21 is secured in the casing at the sides of the core in this form of the device and a partition 22 is extended between the sides of the lining and rests upon the body 16, as shown. Between the bottom cr back of the receptacle and the partition 22 or the ange 9, as the case may be, there is provided a chamber or way 23 through which extra wires may be run so as to provide for future extensions of the system. The flanges 17 of the core shown in Fig. 3, have openings 24 therethrough to permit the insertion of the prongs of a circuit closing plug, it being noted that in alliorms of the invention the openings 12 or 24, as the case may be, are so located that a ringer or prong passing therethrough will be guided directly into engagement with the adjacent conductor strip.

In Fig. 4 is shown a receptacle 3 which is of less depth than the receptacle shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and which is provided with a lining 25 of insulation which covers the entire inner surface ofthe receptacle. This form of the invention omits the ways 23 shown in Figs. 2 and 3 but otherwise is the same in all essential respects as the form shown in Fig. 3, and it is to be noted that in all three forms removal of the cover effects removal of the core but the paper lining remains in the receptacle.

In some instances it may be desirable to use ,ecatar plugs having dat straight prongs or circuit closing ngers in connection with the structures shown in Figures 3 and 4. In this event, the clips 14, shown in Figure 2, would be used in the same manner with the plug receptacles shown in Figures 3 and 4. Instead of being embedded in the LJ-shaped body 16, the clips 14 would be riveted to the conductor bars 18.

It is, of course, desirable that means be provided to couple the ends of adjacent lining sections in such a manner that there will be no in terruption to the flow of current. For this purpose I provide the structure shown in Figs. 9 to 12, in which gures conduit sections 1 are shown with covers 5 engaged thereon, as previously shown and described. The core 26 is indicated in iig. l0 as nlling the receptacle and the conductcr strips are shown on the sides of the core very clearly in Fig. 1U. A coupling sleeve member 2'? is provided of the same cross sectional outline as the receptacle l and it is slightly enlarged at its ends, as indicated at 28, whereby it may fit closely over the ends of the alined sections and be held against endwise movement thereon. This coupling sleeve is formed with beads 29 along its side edges and a cover 30 is provided to engage over the beaded sides of the sleeve, as shown in Fig. 12. In connecting the ends of the sections of the conduit, wires 3l are soldered to the ends of the conductor strips 30 shown in Fig. 10, and are then brought together and their meeting ends twisted together as shown at 32. The wires are then wrapped with tape, as indicated at 33, after which the cover 30 is sprung into place. As shown most clearly in Fig. 11, the ends of the sleeve member 27 are cut away in their lower portions, as indicated at 34, so that the cover 30 may overlap the beads of the respective receptacle sections and abut the end of the cover 5 engaged with the receptacle. This described form of coupling is very inexpensive and permits the ends of alined sections of the conduit to be very easily, eifectually and expeditiously joined so as to transmit the current through any desired length of conductors.

In Fig. 13 is shown a receptacle 1 of the same Aform as that shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the cover is shown with a core 36 very similar to the core 8 shown in Fig. 2. The conductor strips 87 are embedded in the sides of the core but in this form of the invention the clips 14 are omitted. A lining 38 is secured in the receptacle and is of such dimensions that a passage or way 39 is provided at the back of the receptacle for extra Wires, a lining 40 being applied to the inner surface of the sides of this way, as clearly shown. A strip of lining paper is secured in the cover and extends the full length thereof in this form of the invention and this strip with the core is removed when the cover is removed.

In Fig. 14, I have shown the receptacle or conduit section 4l. provided with knock-out openings 42 in its sides. Beads 43 are provided along the free side edges of the conduit and the cover 44 is engaged over these beads in the manner previously described. In this form of the invention, the core comprises two side members 45 and cross bars 46 and 47, the bar 46 being spaed from the edges of the side members 45 so as to provide a Way adjacent the cross web of the cover for extra wires. Openings 48 are formed in the side members 45 at the upper and lower sides of the cross bar 47 and the conductor strips 49 are embedded in the upper and lower sides of said cross bar, as shown. This arrangement provides lns A body is removed with for the insertion of plugs through the sides of the conduit and may be found highly desirable and convenientI in. odd situations where-the first described forms -would be inconvenient. In this form of the invention, the entire plug-receiving the cover, leaving, theconduit section bare.

In Figs. 15 and 16, the conduit section has a paper lining 51 secured therein and a strip 52 of paper is secured on the inner side of thev cover. The core 53 is secured to the cover over the paper strip 52 and conductor bars 54 are embedded in the sides of the core ush with the surfaces thereof. Openings 55 extend longitudinally through the core to receive wires 56 which are fished through the openings and passed from one conduit section to another section or may terminate at any section. Between conduit sections, tubes 57` of insulation are disposed around the wires in Fig. 15. Coupling sleeves 27 and covers^30 are engaged over the ends of .the alined conduit sections. Openings for the insertion `of plugs are, of course, provided through the cover and the paper strip 52. Of course, coveredor insulated wires may be fished through the openings 55, the tubes 57 then being unnecessary between the sections; A

From the foregoing description, taken-in connection with thel accompanying drawings, it will. be seen that I have provided a very simple, compact and easily installed apparatus which 'will provide for the plugging in of lighting fixtures or outlets at various points.

Having thus described claim is:

the invention, what I bare copper switch or feeder .56' and have their ends fitted in the alined openings 55, as shownv 1. Apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a receptacle, a cover engageable over the receptacle, a core fixed upon the-cover and comprising `a central strip and a covering'body extending over said strip and at the sides of the same and spaced from the sides thereof, and conf ductor strips fitted upon said covering body and provided with prongs insertabie through the-body and bendable by contact with the central strip.

2,., Apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a receptacle, a cover engageable over the receptacie, a core carried by the cover and including an inverted U-shaped body extending longitudinally of the cover, and conductor strips having prongs passed through and clinched upon opposite sides of said body, the core having openings at the, cover and the cover having openings aligned with the openings in the core whereby to permit the insertion of a plug to engage the conductor strips.

3. Apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a receptacle, a cover engageable over the receptacle and resiliently held thereon, a core fixed upon the cover and housed within the receptacle when the receptacle and cover are engaged, said core including a central strip set on edge and a covering body extending across the inner edge of said strip and over and spaced from the sides of the same, and conductor strips fitted upon the sides of the covering body and provided with prongs insertable through the body and bendable by contact with the central strip, the core having openings and the cover having openings aligned with the openings in the core whereby to permit tizioi insertion of a plug to engage the conductor s r ps.

MARTIN J. DE MASK. [1.. 5.] 

